Colorado's crackdown on expired temporary tags has led to another issue: drivers being hit with late fees they don't deserve when registering their cars. One example is Kimberly Harvey, who bought a new car on December 29 and had 60 days to register it. Her temporary tag expired on February 27, but she only received the title notice from the Denver DMV on that same Friday afternoon.
Harvey considered going to the DMV but realized it was too late for walk-ins due to rolling closures and capacity limits. She tried to register online the next week and was shocked to find a $50 late fee—$25 for February and $25 for March. She assumed there would be a grace period, especially since her paperwork arrived late. 'It struck me as wrong because it wasn't my fault,' she said.
Milt Norton, a 9NEWS technician, faced a similar problem. He bought a car in November, and two days before his temporary tag expired, he still hadn't received the title notice. After getting a new tag and eventually registering, he saw a $75 late fee. He paid it just to get his plates but felt frustrated that the city's delays caused the charge.
When contacted by Steve On Your Side, the Denver DMV explained that both drivers could request a waiver or refund in person. However, visiting the DMV without an appointment can take hours. Norton had already waited four hours to register, so he didn't want to wait again.
Fortunately, Denver's DMV provided a form that drivers can submit to the Colorado Department of Revenue to request a refund of late fees. The fillable PDF can be emailed to DOR_LateFees@state.co.us with supporting documentation. This offers a simpler way to resolve the issue without waiting in line.
As for processing delays, Denver's DMV noted that dealers have 30 days to submit title paperwork, and the DMV then takes about 21 days to process it. In Harvey's case, a third party caused the delay, while Norton's late fees were due to a software glitch that wasn't widespread.